4 BUSINESS THURSDAY MARCH 15 2018 WESTERN DAILY PRESS
WDP-E01-S3
BUSINESS SHOWCASE SOUTH WEST 2018
Dragons’ Den reject to share Trunki ’s global ride to the top
W HEN asked, the Dragon’s most often cite a certain Bristol-based businessman, as ‘the one’ they most regret letting leave the Denwithout anof - fer. The 7th Business Showcase South West is once again supported by the Bristol Post, Bath Chronicle and Gloucester Echo and welcomes Rob Law MBE to Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol on Wednesday, May 16, from 10m-4pm. no real acknowledgement that his children ’s luggage shown was merely a pro - totype. Since Trunki launched in May that same year, his com - pany has sold 3.5 mil - lion suitcases in over 100 countries with con - sumers spendingover $200 million on his brand. Rob had to suffer the indignity of the ‘Theo Test’ on the hit BBC2 series back in 2006. He left with no investment and Trunki now employs 30 people at their head office in Bristol called The Mothership, and a further 50 people at its UK manufacturing and dis -
tribution facility - MagmaMoulding - in Plymouth. Rob is hoping to encourage and inspire at the free-to-attend Business Showcase event alongwith The Apprentice Winner Mark Wright and Martin
Roberts, survivor of The Jungle and presenter of BBC1’s Homes Under the Hammer. All are set to present Keynote speeches for business. Google are also offer -
ing two workshops on so - cial media for businesses and Cyber Security, whilst seven expert, info-packed free lectures are being delivered in the TrinityMirror Seminar Zone. Attendees can expect a host of ‘dragon slaying’ tips from in - ventor Rob and his own fresh take on running a business and how to nav - igate the ever evolving challenges in the global marketplace. Over 260 exhibition stands, taken by busi - nesses from across the re - gion are preparing to meet with an expected 5,500 plus at - tendees. First West of England are running a comprehensive free bus service fromTempleMeads station inBristol
Above, Rob Law, designer of the Trunki, will be seeking to inspire visitors to the Business Showcase South West. Also giving speeches are, inset below, Apprentice winner Mark Wright and, inset top, Homes Under the Hammer presenter Martin Roberts
and shuttles around the city, helping to keep the Business Showcase free to travel to whilst the official car parks are free to use. The Business Showcase South West was founded back in 2014 by TV presenter and Sunday Mirror colum - nist Jamie Breese. He said: “I founded the expo after finishing a big TV series in the USA I had some downtime and Iwanted to develop on the Only Connect net - working events which I had been running occasionally in the region. “I like seeing people come together and doing well: the time felt right for a big business exhibition. I engaged
Baroness Brady as my first speaker and it’s been just getting better and bigger every year. “It’s the sponsors who help us keep it free for so many people. This time Worldpay and NatWest have comeback for a fourth time as have West of England Growth Hub too! “They’ve been joined by global soft - ware firm XERO, Regus, Blackstar Solutions, local firm Proctor and Stevens and South West-based in - surance leaders, Jelf Group”. Jamie added: “If you are in busi - ness, are returning to business, want to be in business or are running a major business to anSME, the Busi -
ness Showcase South West is a day-long networking opportunity. “You can have lunch in the Trinity Mirror Networking Cafe, attend ex - pert-led workshops, take part in speed networking and meet thou - sands of businesses all looking to get things done. “It’s an event to celebrate the best of the South West and everyone is invited”. n To book free delegate tickets or for information on exhibiting at the May/Oct 2018 events, readers can visit the organiser’s website: www.businessshowcasesouthwest.com .
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